What's on for the new season at Wokingham Theatre

A tangled love affair, a teenage Mozart who swears rather a lot and a riotous performance of A Christmas Carol are not normally what you would find in one place. But as the new season at Wokingham Theatre approaches actors are getting ready to raise not only the red curtain but the roof as well.

What have top comedy writer Richard Harris, Mozart and Charles Dickens all got in common? Caroline Cook spoke to Wokingham Theatre to find out

A tangled love affair, a teenage Mozart who swears rather a lot and a riotous performance of A Christmas Carol are not normally what you would find in one place. But as the new season at Wokingham Theatre approaches actors are getting ready to raise not only the red curtain but the roof as well.

First up in the autumn season is The Maintenance Man by acclaimed writer Richard Harris whose repertoire includes Outside Edge and Stepping Out. The dark comedy brings together the tale of the wife, the mistress, and a DIY enthusiast who can’t quite choose between the two.

Alan Long, artistic director at Wokingham Theatre, said: “Richard Harris is one of the top comedy drama writers so this is slightly more serious but it’s got its amusing moments too.

“There are some funny lines but a lot of the comedy is because people recognise situations and there are quite a few of those times where you recognise the things men and women say to each other.

“It’s a little bit dark at times and a little bit serious but its got a few cracking lines in as well.”

The mystery of what goes on behind closed doors will be opened up for audiences between Thursday, September 9, and Saturday, September 18, when actors from Bracknell, Windsor and Crowthorne unweave the tangled web of Bob, his wife Chris, and his new love Diana on the set of a traditional house.

With Chris appearing at one door and Diana stepping out of another the women share the stage for what looks let to be a struggle over love, marriage and a man who gets carried away with his Black and Decker.

Alan said: “It’s one room inhabited by both women and the man stands at the front to talk to the women. It’s quite unusual in that the major figure comes out of character and talks to the audience person to person and then he goes back into the play.”

Moving from marriage to Mozart, the second play to whet the audience’s appetite this season is an elaborate performance of Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus.

Alan said: “Peter Shaffer is one of the greatest modern playwrights, he also wrote Equus which has been on the West End recently.

“It is about Mozart, but not really, it’s really about a court musician of the time who believes he’s a great musician. But then he comes across Mozart who is clearly far better than he is but Mozart is a teenager who swears and farts.

“He cannot cope with the fact he should be the great genius but God has picked this teenager.”

Theatregoers can look forward to a rich display of 18th century elegance from Thursday, October 21, to Saturday, October 30, with ornate hired costumes capturing the elaborate nature of court life in Mozart’s time.

Alan said: “The play is also about whether the court musician, Salieri, kills Mozart or not, which is still debated among historians, so there’s a slight mystery element to the play as well."

The cast of 17 have already started rehearsing for the play and are looking forward to taking the audience back in time for a story of intrigue, genius, and perhaps a musical murder.

Last but by no means least, rounding off the season is a carry-on style comedy of errors – The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society’s production of a Christmas Carol. With cake stalls and carols in the foyer the Farndale ladies will be inviting the audience to join in with the festive spirit from the moment they step into the theatre.

As they attempt to put on a production of Dickensian favourite A Christmas Carol everything which can go wrong does go wrong, but with a dash of luck and plenty of enthusiasm will it all be alright on the night?

The only way to find out will be to join in the festive madness at Wokingham Theatre from Thursday, December 9, to Saturday, December 18, for what is guaranteed to be a riotous end to a fantastic season.